Then, just as the COVID lockdowns were winding down and the world was looking to regain some lost ground, full-scale war was back with a vengeance. First with the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022, followed by the Gaza war in 2023 which spilled over into Lebanon last year.
The latest blow: funding cuts and tariffs
Which brings us to 2025, where the new year delivered a serious blow to the international development sector, a critical responder to these global crises. USAID, the largest provider of oversees development assistance, was shut down along with $4 billion dollars in programming for children. While the communities that Children Believe works with were not directly affected, we expect a ripple of adverse impact on everyone.
Things have gotten worse this month as developing countries reeling from the funding gap in international assistance have been slapped with new trade tariffs. Most of the countries Children Believe works in, including India, Ethiopia, Ghana, Mali, Nicaragua, and Paraguay were all hit with tariffs of at least 10 percent on goods exported to the US.
How does this affect children?
A former colleague of mine in Bangladesh said this in a recent LinkedIn post:
“When tariffs hurt trade, it’s children who suffer silently. The recent 37 percent tariff imposed by the U.S. on Bangladeshi exports has rightly sparked concern across economic and policy circles. But beyond the numbers, I’m thinking of a young girl in Narayanganj whose mother stitches garments for global brands. A single shift cut, an order canceled, a factory downsized-these disruptions ripple through the fabric of a child’s life.
This isn’t just a story about trade imbalances. It’s about survival for thousands of families already living on the edge. As development practitioners, our lens must go deeper. We must ask: what does a global economic decision mean for the everyday child in Bangladesh? Will she still go to school? Will she eat three meals? Will she be put into unsafe work? These are not hypothetical questions. They are urgent realities.”
These are the realities we face as Children Believe continues to work with our amazing local partners to do everything we can to protect the choices of children, their families, and their communities.
Where do we find hope this Easter?
So in a moment this heavy, how do we hold onto hope?
That’s what I’ve been reflecting on as Easter approaches. This year is special, Christians from Orthodox, Catholic and Protestant traditions will all celebrate Easter on the same day — April 20. It’s a moment of unity in a world that really needs it. Our traditions may differ — from Easter eggs and roast lamb dinners to flowered crosses and bonnets — but the story is the same.
It’s a story of resurrection. Of renewal. Of impossible things being made possible again.
That’s what Easter reminds us – that hope lives even in the darkest places. That hope can rise again, even when all seems lost.
That’s the kind of hope we carry at Children Believe – the belief that the small changes we achieve together in time will add up into bigger, better ones that help us overcome the greatest obstacles in our way. And when you have that hope, that deep down hope, you start to notice something. You find a way to adapt to unexpected circumstances. To rise. To dare to do more than you thought possible.
So if you find yourself doubting if we can overcome, remember the story of Easter. Hope doesn’t ignore hardship. It rises through it.
About Children Believe
Children Believe works globally to empower children to dream fearlessly, stand up for what they believe in — and be heard. For 60+ years, we’ve brought together brave young dreamers, caring supporters and partners, and unabashed idealists. Together, we’re driven by a common belief: creating access to education — inside and outside of classrooms — is the most powerful tool children can use to change their world.
About Childfund Alliance
A member of ChildFund Alliance, Children Believe is part of a global network of child-focused development organizations working to create opportunities for children and youth, their families and communities. ChildFund helps nearly 23-million children and their families in 70 countries overcome poverty and underlying conditions that prevent children from achieving their full potential. We work to end violence against children; provide expertise in emergencies and disasters to ease the harmful impact on children and their communities; and engage children and youth to create lasting change and elevate their voices in decisions that affect their lives.